I am trying to find materials to make a pulse laser for lab

[mike232]

Hello everyone,
I am working with my modern physics professor Dr. Parshar to make a pulse laser for my modern physics lab. I have to make an itemized expense report for the materials and all that. I need help figuring out what crystal or doped glass would be best to use, not super expensive, and could also use some help in where I could buy these.

I don't know if this is general physics, its optics and modern physics, but I could use some help.

Thanks guys

 

[blue_leaf77]

Can you please elaborate more on how your pulse laser will look like? Like how long the pulse duration, repetition rate, and wavelength will be? More importantly the first thing that will make your laser operate in pulsed regime is how you will make it pulsed, not the type of material. Gain media for laser naturally emit CW, so unless you modify something in your cavity your laser will keep operating as CW laser regardless of the type of gain medium. One of the most cost friendly pulsed laser system in my opinion is Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Note that the name is not merely "Nd:YAG laser". I guess this link will be useful http://www.laser-gadgets.com/pulse_laser_gun.php

 

[mike232]

Ok so I'm looking to make from scratch a laser with a crystal or glass that isn't as expensive as a ruby. We are looking to produce a visual laser beam, not picky on any details other than we can see that it is working. Its a 300 level modern physics lab.

 

[blue_leaf77]

When making pulsed laser one should not consider the gain medium type and pulsing technique as separate matters. I guess for undergrad level lab, q-switched pulse will be suitable both for cost and simplicity of setup. The commonly used type of such laser is again Nd:YAG laser, but this emits at 1064 nm. If you want you can add frequency doubling crystal to make it green. As for the price you can search yourself, I have no idea about it.